Modular high-rise data centers and methods thereof

A modular data center comprising at least one data center slice, each of the at least one data center slice comprising a plurality of stackable modules being vertically stacked, the plurality of stackable modules comprising:

• a plurality of stackable data center IT modules being vertically stacked, each of the stackable data center IT modules comprising:
• a first central IT area comprising first and second sides, the first central IT area being configured either as:
• an input IT plenum where air flows downward from a module of the stackable modules above or upward from the stackable module below;
• an output IT plenum where the air flows upward to the stackable module above or downward to the stackable module below;
• a second IT area and a third IT area, each of the second and third IT areas being respectively on the first and second sides of the first central IT area, each of the second and third IT areas being adapted to be in vertical fluid communication with two or more other of the stackable modules, the second and the third IT areas each being configured either as:
• the output IT plenum adapted to either allow the air to flow in an upward direction to the stackable module above, or to allow the air to flow in a downward direction to the module below;
• the input IT plenum adapted to either allow air to flow in the downward direction from the stackable module above, or to allow the air to flow in the upward direction from the stackable module below;
• wherein when the second and the third IT areas are configured as the output IT plenum, the first central IT area is configured as the input IT plenum, and wherein when the second and the third IT areas are configured as the input IT plenum, the first central IT area is configured as the output IT plenum;
• a fourth IT area being between the first central IT area and the second IT area and a fifth IT area being between the first central IT area and the third IT area, the fourth and fifth IT areas being fluidly isolated in relation to the fourth and fifth IT areas of other modules of the stackable modules stacked above or below, each of the fourth and fifth IT areas allowing some airflow to transfer from the first central IT area to the second and third IT areas when the first central IT area is being configured as the input IT plenum, and each of the fourth and fifth IT areas allowing some airflow to transfer from the second and third IT areas into the first central IT area when the first central IT area is being configured as the output IT plenum, each of the fourth and fifth IT areas comprising:
• a row of heat producing computing cabinets adjacent to one of the IT input and output plenums;
• a heat exchanger system for extracting the produced heat adjacent to another one of the IT input and output plenums;
• and
• an aisle disposed between the row of heat producing computing cabinets and the heat exchanger system;
• and
• an internal IT structure adapted to support a weight of at least one module of the stackable modules stacked on top of the stackable data center IT module, the internal IT structure comprising a top IT portion and a bottom IT portion, the top and bottom IT portions being adapted to allow vertical airflow through each of the first central, second, and third IT areas;
• at least one stackable data center air-handling module, each of the at least one stackable data center air-handling module comprising:
• a first central air-handling area comprising first and second sides, the first central air-handling area being configured either as:
• an output air-handling plenum adapted to either allow the air to flow in the downward direction to the stackable module below, or to allow the air to flow in the upward direction to the stackable module above;
• an input air-handling plenum adapted to either allow the air to flow in the upward direction from the stackable module below, or to allow the air to flow in the downward direction from the stackable module above;
• a second air-handling area and a third air-handling area, each of the second and third air-handling areas being respectively on the first and second sides of the first central air-handling area, each of the second and third air-handling areas being adapted to be in vertical fluid communication with the two or more other of the stackable modules, the second and third air-handling areas each being configured either as:
• the input air-handling plenum adapted to either allow the air to flow in the upward direction from the stackable module below, or to allow the air to flow in the downward direction from the stackable module above;
• the output air-handling plenum adapted to either allow the air to flow in the downward direction to the stackable module below, or to allow the air to flow in the upward direction to the stackable module above;
• wherein when the second and the third air-handling areas of the stackable data center air-handling module are configured as the input air-handling plenum, the first central air-handling area of the stackable data center air-handling module is configured as the output air-handling plenum and wherein when the second and the third air-handling areas of the stackable data center air-handling module are configured as the output air-handling plenum, the first central air-handling area of the stackable data center air-handling module is configured as the input air-handling plenum;
• at least one first blowing mechanism between the first central and second air-handling areas of the stackable data center air-handling module, the at least one first blowing mechanism being configured to either force an airflow from the second air-handling area into the first central air-handling area or to force an airflow from the first central air-handling area into the second air-handling area;
• at least one second blowing mechanism between the first central and third air-handling areas of the stackable data center air-handling module, the at least one second blowing mechanisms being configured to either force an airflow from the third air-handling area into the first central air-handling area or to force an airflow from the first central air-handling area into the third air-handling area;
• and
• an internal air-handling structure adapted to support a weight of the at least one module of the stackable modules configured to be stacked on top of the stackable data center air-handling module, the internal air-handling structure comprising a top air-handling portion and a bottom air-handling portion, the top and bottom air-handling portions being adapted to allow vertical airflow through each of the first central, second, and third air-handling areas of the stackable data center air-handling module,
• wherein the first central IT area and the first central air-handling area of each of the stackable modules within each of the at least one data center slice are in direct fluid communication with one another,
• wherein the second IT area and the second air-handling area of each of the stackable modules within each of the at least one data center slice are in direct fluid communication with one another, and
• wherein the third IT area and the third air-handling area of each of the stackable modules within each of the at least one data center slice are in direct fluid communication with one another.